45 to 60 yards per hour,easy setup. John Deere Diesel with 5418 hrs.

Ready to Color $36,500.00

Call Bob at 216-524-454

Machine has 1354 hrs running time. $40,000

Contact Matt Cox @ 406-498-3109 or 406-287-3179

By:  Dave Whitelaw, www.askthegrinderguy.com

For many years, this has been my motto. I don’t know who coined the phrase or something similar, but this is the only way you can improve the process. I also believe, in good times and bad, you create your own economy. Trying different processes and ways to improve your business creates success. Failures are just a part of the process.

I received an email question a while back asking if a slow speed shredder and a new star screen could replace a high speed grinder and trommel screen. Aside from spending more than a million dollars, I don’t really know, I told my customer. 

The customer’s operation was not unlike most others, grinding pallets and wood waste along with typical yard waste to create compost, mulch and fuel wood. So we took it one process at a time.  The advantages and disadvantages of a low speed shredder verses a high speed grinder are:

•     Less fuel use- This is an obvious savings

•     Less wear part cost- This is another obvious savings

•     Less production- This is an unknown

•     Usable Product size- This is an unknown

We then compared the Star Screen to a Trommel Screen:

•     More Production- How much more is unknown

•     Ability to change screen sizes easily – No problem with the Star Screen

•     Cost per yard- More Maintenance with the Star Screen but more production, unknown cost

•     Contaminant removal- Much easier with the Star Screen

So, like any other customer, without visiting another site using these machines or renting one yourself, it is difficult to determine without trying it yourself. Many vendors will gladly bring a unit for demonstration, but you may need more than a few hours to determine if this would work for you.

After spending a significant amount of money, this is what we determined for this particular customer and for you:

•     The cost saving with the Low Speed Shredder operation was so significant, you can afford to spend more money downstream creating the products. This may not be true for all because of volumes needed.

•     Less production per hour was still less expensive than the cost of running the high speed grinder. This may not be true in all cases because materials and products differ greatly.

•     Because we were able to change screen sizes on the slow speed shredder we were still able to use the finished product for currently marketed materials. For those that we could not produce with the shredder, we let the screen produce those. This can work most of the time, but a finer mulch, playground materials, etc. may not be able to get what you need

•     Because we were creating 3 or 4 different size products it was much easier to use the Star Screen than change Trommel screens. Changing for 2 sizes is doable, but much more than that is much easier for a Star Screen

•     The production of the Star Screen and lower fuel use, made screening much more cost effective. This will be in almost every case.

•     While we were unable to use the star screen as a mulch coloring machine like the trommel,  the overall cost savings allowed for  purchasing a stand-alone color unit along with reducing coloring cost because of the efficiency of the color unit.

How did we determine all of this? We tried it. Without trying you won’t get anywhere.  In addition to the current operations, we tackled the task of trying to make more usable products out of low value materials. Many new pieces of equipment have come into the market to remove contaminants, plastic separators and stone separators being just a few.

Yard waste and pallet material that has plastic in it, cannot be used in mulch very well so it typically goes to the low value wood fuel market. Adding a vacuum above a conveyor does not work. For a plastic removal system to work, you need a few things to make it effective:

1.    Plastic or inert materials need to be on top of the other materials

2.    Suction area needs to be where the material can be free floating

3.    Input of the material needs to be a reduced consistent flow

4.    You need a good fan and housing system to trap and pull the material

5.    Fine materials need to be removed

Trying to take a pile of just contaminated overs and process it through a machine to remove the inerts does not work well.  There are too many contaminants and too much volume. Removing contaminants while you are screening makes it much more successful.

By adding a Windsifter to the Star Screen, we are able to create usable mulch material out of the some contaminated wood waste and some of the less contaminated yard waste because the volumes are reduced and the pieces of plastic are not as small as when they go through a high speed grinder.

If you cannot add a fan to a screen, a stand-alone plastic separator like the Komptech Hurrikan is an option.  This unit works by:

•     Discharging material from a screener’s overs conveyor directly into it creating a low input flow, fines free.

•     A fan underneath makes inert materials float or come to the surface

•     Uses 1 or 2 fans to pull off floating material and material on top of conveyor

•     You can add a magnetic head pulley or a stone trap to remove additional materials

For log yard cleanup or landclearing materials that have stone contamination, an air separator like the Komptech Stonefex has become very effective. Using an air system from underneath the conveyor, the Stonefex separates heavies from lights. Stone falls out first while the lightweight materials carry to another conveyor. You can even add a suction fan to remove the inert materials.

All these additions cost money, but what is your return on investment? If you are disposing at a landfill or just selling for fuel wood at cost, these are easy numbers to calculate.

Some of these options discussed may work for your operation while others may not. There are a thousand other options out there also. The point is, when you have the time, try something new. You’ll never know until you do.

grinderguy@askthegrinderguy.com

By:  Bryan Young, Southern Regional Sales Manager

Let’s touch on the role water plays in the production of color-enriched mulch. We all know that water is the vehicle that carries the colorant over the surface area of the wood substrate you are coloring. The type of coloring equipment you operate will also be a factor in the amount of water you need. Newer coloring equipment, specifically engineered for coloring mulch with reduced water use rates, tends to use less water than the older style systems. Another part of the water use rate component is the particle size and moisture content of the uncolored material. Obviously, uncolored mulch that has a high percentage of fines (¼ inch minus pieces) will require more water than material without a large percentage fines. 

What role particle size plays in water use rates and ultimately finished product weight and its effect on transportation cost is a topic for another day. In this article we are going to focus on the importance of water use adjustments during the coloring process.

While the Amerimulch® Colortrom® 250 is widely recognized as the most water frugal coloring system in the industry, it is critically important to make water use adjustments during the coloring process. Regardless of which type of coloring system you are operating – dedicated coloring system or a colorant injection unit in your grinder or trommel screen – this water use adjustment is critical.

Using too much water in the coloring process has a number of negative effects besides just transportation cost. Mold and fungus growth can be accelerated by the presence of extra moisture. Finished product’s drying or curing time is directly related to water use rates.  The “spring wash” issue we all face from time to time can be attributed to excessive water use rates.

The water flow meter on many coloring systems is a tool used to determine how much water you are using, not the correct amount of water to use. Water adjustments are determined by visual characteristics of the finished product and not by a water flow meter. Your goal should be to produce a 100% covered product using as little water as possible.

The easiest water adjustment for most producers is determined when the material coming out of your coloring system is not fully covered; this is your prompt to turn the water up! This adjustment should be made in small steps, approximately 3 to 5 gallons of water per minute if you have a functional water flow meter on your system. In most cases, this increase in the water flow rate will cover those chips and your adjustments are complete. The harder adjustment, and the one that most operators skip, is the downward adjustment. Let’s assume that your operator starts his day coloring mulch and the material being produced is 100% covered. In most cases, the operator is content and makes no further adjustments. After all, the material is covered, he sees no uncolored pieces and chances are his boss is not unhappy. This is the time to make downward adjustments in the water use rate. The operator should reduce the water slightly, again 3 to 5 gallons a minute, and observe the finished product quality after a couple of minutes letting that adjustment work its way through your coloring system. If the finished product is still 100% covered, make another small downward adjustment in the water use rate. Take a couple of minutes to let this adjustment work its way thru your system and observe the finished product quality. Continue to make these downward adjustments until you begin to see some uncovered, or uncolored, wood particles.  At this point you have taken too much water out of the process. Turn the water up slightly and you should realize a 100% covered finished product. It may seem repetitive, but making these adjustments will assure you are making an acceptable finished product using as little water as possible.

Provided By:  Daniel Gaertner, UBS Financial Services Inc.

Today’s global economic environment is a mixed bag of opportunity and risk that will leave even the most seasoned investor pondering what direction to take in 2013.

Encouraging news, such as a decline in the U.S. unemployment rate or rising corporate profits, is often immediately eclipsed by sobering news, such as credit rating downgrades for European countries and the slow recovery of the U.S. housing market.

While it might be difficult for most investors to gauge just how challenging how the remainder of this year and beyond might be, there are ways to position your portfolio and other investments for solid performance in a low-growth, high-volatility environment.

One way to position your portfolio for the long haul is to take steps to counter the effects of “deleveraging,” the process of raising capital by selling assets, which is  currently being undertaken by households, banks and governments to lower the  portion of their balance sheets that come from debt.

SOLIDIFYING YOUR PORTFOLIO

The first critical step to iron-clad your investments is to determine your true level of risk – that is, the level of loss your portfolios might sustain in major and unexpected negative market movements. This process is also a good time to consider whether your investment goals are attainable and what changes, if any, need to be made in light of the current investment environment.

In resetting your financial goals, you might also want to leverage a number of powerful techniques that minimize the burden of servicing your existing liabilities.

One way to reduce your liabilities is by taking advantage of historically low interest rates and refinancing your mortgage at a lower rate. This technique has the potential to enhance cash flows and allow for more money to be dedicated toward your investment goals.

Securities-based loans might be a path to take for investors who are in need of liquidity, but are not prepared to realize losses at the current time. Given the low interest rate environment, securities-based lending can help increase your savings rate by consolidating other higher-interest rate loans or debt to a more favorable rate to enhance your cash flow.

FINDING THE RIGHT OPPORTUNITIES TO PURSUE

There are also other investment strategies to consider when seeking to leverage potential opportunities in 2013. One strategy might be to limit your exposure to risk assets, such as below-benchmark equities, and to overweight on fixed income and cash.

Particularly, within fixed income there is a preference among some investors for corporate bonds, including high-yield corporates, which offer a yield pickup relative to government bonds and should benefit from the balance sheet strength and solid ratings of corporate America.

Today’s environment of unprecedented deleveraging presents no shortage of challenges; but it also contains ample opportunities to prosper. Please speak to a Financial Advisor, who can help you explore strategies that can best position your portfolio now to both preserve your wealth and capitalize on the potential for positive performance that may lie ahead.

Past performance is no guarantee of future results.

The information in this discussion has been prepared by, and reflects the opinions and various investment views of, the speaker. UBS Financial Services Inc. has not independently verified such information and does not guarantee its accuracy or completeness. This information is being provided to you for your information purposes only and does not constitute a recommendation or an endorsement by UBS Financial Services Inc. of the author, the securities or views stated herein. Any specific securities discussed should not be considered a recommendation or solicitation to buy or sell any particular security. You should not assume that any investment in any of the securities was or will be profitable.

Neither UBS Financial Services Inc. nor any of its employees provide legal or tax advice. You should consult with your personal legal or tax advisor regarding your personal circumstances. Financial  Planning services are provided in our capacity as are registered investment adviser. As a firm providing  wealth management services to clients in the U.S., we offer both investment advisory and brokerage services. These services are separate and distinct, differ in material ways and are governed by different laws and separate contracts. For more information on the distinctions between our brokerage and investment advisory services, please speak with your Financial Advisor or visit our website at  www.ubs.com/workingwithus. UBS Financial Services Inc. is a subsidiary of UBS AG. ©2012 UBS Financial Services Inc. All rights reserved

By:  Bill Jones, Central Regional Sales Manager

As anticipation for a flawless and successful season approaches obvious measures have been taken, mulch has been stockpiled, equipment serviced, oil and tires changed on the trucks, but has everything been checked? 

One of the most important and sometimes overlooked contributors to a booming season is that of the truck driver. Starting January 30, 2012 and no later than January 30, 2014, all Commercial Drivers License (CDL) holders must provide information to their Bureau of Motor Vehicles (BMV) regarding the type of commercial motor vehicle operation they drive in or expect to drive in with their CDL. Drivers operating in certain types of commerce will be required to submit a current medical examiner’s certificate to their BMV to obtain a “certified” medical status as part of their driving record. CDL holders required to have a “certified” medical status who fail to provide and keep up-to-date their medical examiner’s certificate with their BMV will become “not-certified” and they may lose their CDL.

Although having a current medical card falls on the CDL driver every two years it’s just one of those things that may get overlooked very easily. With the federal government making it easier for law enforcement to have quicker access to your medical card, it also makes it easier for them to catch the drivers whose medical cards are not up to date.  That means delays in mulch being delivered on time to your customers!

Before the loads of mulch begin to roll out of the yard, get involved and check with all of your CDL drivers to make sure their medical cards are up to date and have been provided to the local BMV.  The one thing that you don’t want to see is your beautiful load of color-enriched mulch stranded on the side of the road. Check with your local BMV on timelines and requirements to remain safe and keep current!

To see PDF version of our Q2-13 Newsletter please click here.

By:  Joanne Bednar, Technical / R&D Manager

Last December, Chromascape®  placed an order for raw materials.  They were delivered, wrapped in an  insulation type foil, to help prevent the  materials from freezing.  A question came to mind, could this material be equally effective in reducing heat gain in the summer time?

Chromascape places two labels on every tote:  Keep From Freezing and Avoid Direct Sunlight and Heat  as best use and storage recommendations.  The reason those labels are placed on the totes is to notify you that the most stable product is maintained by following those two recommendations.

Dr. Ben Invergo, Director of Technology and Product Development, thought the evaluation of this heat reflective radiant material could offer assistance to our  customers  to  address  these  recommendations.

Astro-Cooler Products makes this material and advertises that this unique radiant- barrier material was originally developed by NASA to protect astronauts in space. Furthermore, it was developed to provide  exceptional resistance to temperature change swings. This heat reflective radiant material is available in different size pallet cover dimensions, or as tank wrap. It is lightweight and reusable; leasing options are offered, as well as a Take Back and Recycle Program and there are volume discounts.

Astro-Cooler Products, sold us 48” tote covers for $32 each and were extremely helpful in analyzing the temperature data we collected with the temperature probes they provided.

The data was collected as follows: Ultra Triple Black (lot# 3991) and Premium  Black (lot# 4136) were the products tested.  Two totes of each product were involved.  One served as a control tote (uncovered) and the other was covered with an Astro- Cooler tote cover. All four totes were left outside at our Atlanta, Texas facility for two weeks from May 29th, 2012 to June 8, 2012. Air temperatures were in the low to mid 90’s during this two week period. One temperature probe was taped on the side of each tote.

Astro-Cooler Products compiled data which clearly indicates that the covered totes did not see the temperature range differences as did the totes there were NOT covered.  The ranges for the covered averaged about 19 degree temperature swings.  Those uncovered, averaged a temperature swing of 35 degrees. So the covers lessened the temperature difference by about 54%. That‘s dramatic and goes a long way ensuring product stability.

“If you can remove the pallet covers in the evening and put them back on in the morning, the outside air will cool the drums more at night. As you can see, our covers work both ways, and the outside temperature at night drops farther than the air temperature under the pallet cover.”

That’s a quote from Astro-Coolers, so the effect could be even greater but would require more time and effort uncovering and recovering your totes.  The covers could be used if there is no covered storage area available.

CONTACT INFORMATION:  Astro-Cooler Products; ATTN: Mr.  Adam Anderson; 8333 Demetre Avenue Sacramento, CA 95828; Tel:  800-442-3645

www.astrocooler.com

Since the election in November, many are concerned with what the future holds, especially in health  care reform. Unfortunately, because of the amount of misinformation in the media regarding the  Affordable Care Act (ACA), it’s difficult to know fact from fiction.

In previous newsletters, we have published articles on  the ACA and how it will affect running a business,  but the following information is how it could affect  you personally, your children or even your parents.

“The point of the law is to make the health system better for each person, for less cost to society overall,” states Shana  Alex Lavarreda, Ph.D., director of health insurance studies at the UCLA Center for Health Policy Research.¹

HEALTHY INDIVIDUALS AND THE AFFORDABLE CARE ACT

Even if you’re healthy now, sooner or later there will come a time when you will need health insurance. Not having health insurance when you need it can result in large amounts of debt and bad credit ratings. Worrying about health insurance and the cost of your care is the last thing you want to do.  The Affordable Care Act is expanding your options for health insurance and making them more affordable.

Top things to Know for Healthy Individuals:

•     Under the health care law, insurance companies can no longer drop you when you get sick just because you made a mistake on your coverage application.

•     Parents have new options to cover their children.

•     If you have children under age 26, you can insure them if your policy allows for dependent coverage.

•     The only exception is if you have an existing job-based plan, and your children can get their own job-based coverage.

•     Job-based health plans and new individual plans are no longer allowed to deny or exclude coverage to any child under age 19 based on health conditions,  including babies born with health problems.

•     Starting in 2014, if your income is less than the  equivalent of about $88,000 for a family of today and your job doesn’t offer affordable coverage, you may get tax credits to help pay for insurance.

•     Starting in 2014, if your employer doesn’t offer  insurance, you will be able to buy insurance directly in an Exchange that gives you power similar to what large businesses and members of Congress have to get better choices and lower prices.

INDIVIDUALS WITH HEALTH  CONDITIONS AND THE AFFORDABLE CARE ACT

If you have a health condition, you know how important having health insurance is and how expensive it can be. Worrying about where to get coverage and the cost of your care is the last thing you want to do when you are dealing with chronic illness. ᴀe health care law is expanding your options for health insurance and making them more affordable.

Top Things to Know for Individuals with Health Conditions:

•     Under the health care law, if you have been uninsured for at least six months and have a health condition, you may be able to get health insurance through the Pre-Existing Condition Insurance Plan. 

•     If a new insurance plan doesn’t pay for services you believe were covered, you now have new, clear options to appeal the decision. 

•     Insurance companies can no longer drop you if  you get sick just because you made a mistake on your  coverage application.

•     Starting in 2014, job-based and new individual plans won’t be able to exclude you from coverage or charge you a higher premium for a pre-existing condition, including a disability.

•     Starting in 2014, if your income is less than the  equivalent of about $88,000 for a family of four  today, and your job doesn’t offer affordable coverage, you may get tax credits to help pay for insurance.  If you have insurance and have problems with your plan or questions about your coverage, get help through the Consumer Assistance Program. If you have been rejected for insurance, learn more about your rights and find out how to appeal denied claims. 

FAMILIES WITH CHILDREN AND THE AFFORDABLE CARE ACT

You do your best to keep your children healthy, but sickness and accidents are a part of life. Getting health insurance for your children gives you peace of mind knowing they have health coverage when they need it. But for many hardworking families, affordable insurance can be hard to find.  The Affordable Care Act is giving you more control over your family’s health care by expanding your options for health insurance and making them more affordable.

Top things to Know for Families with Children:

•     Insurance companies can no longer impose lifetime dollar limits on essential coverage limits.  

•     Job-based health plans and new individual plans are no longer allowed to deny or exclude coverage for your children (under age 19) based on a pre-existing condition, including a disability. Starting in 2014, these same plans won’t be allowed to deny or exclude anyone or charge more for a pre-existing condition including a disability.

•     Parents have new options to cover their children.  If your children are under age 26, you can generally insure them if your policy allows for dependent coverage.  The only exception is if you have an existing job-based plan, and your children can get their own job-based coverage.

•     An Affordable Insurance Exchange is a new marketplace where individuals and small businesses can buy affordable health benefit plans. Exchanges will offer you a choice of plans that meet certain benefits and cost standards. Starting in 2014, members  of Congress will be getting their health care insurance through Exchanges, and you will be able buy your  insurance through Exchanges, too.

•     Pregnancy and newborn care, along with vision and dental coverage for children, will be covered in all Exchange plans and new plans sold to individuals and small businesses, starting in 2014.

•     In 2014, if your income is less than the equivalent of about $88,000 for a family of four today, and your job doesn’t offer affordable coverage, you may get tax credits to help pay for insurance.  All information referenced in this section can be found at the website link at the end of this article.

SENIORS AND THE AFFORDABLE CARE ACT

The Affordable Care Act strengthens Medicare and helps seniors take charge of their health.  The law  provides important benefits such as free preventive  services, free annual wellness visits, and a 50%  discount on prescription drugs for Medicare recipients in the coverage gap known as the “donut hole.” You can also work with your doctor to create a personalized prevention plan.

Top Things to Know for Seniors:

•     Under the health care law, your existing guaranteed Medicare-covered benefits won’t be reduced or taken away. Neither will your ability to choose your own doctor.

•     Nearly 4 million people with Medicare received cost relief during the law’s first year. If you had  Medicare prescription drug coverage and had to pay for  your drugs in the coverage gap known as the “donut  hole,” you received a one-time, tax free $250 rebate from Medicare to help pay for your prescriptions.

•     If you have high prescription drug costs that put you in the donut hole, you now get a 50% discount on covered brand-name drugs while you’re in the donut hole. Between today and 2020, you’ll get continuous Medicare coverage for your prescription drugs. ᴀe donut hole will be closed completely by 2020.

•     Medicare covers certain preventive services without charging you the Part B coinsurance or deductible. You will also be offered a free annual wellness exam.  ᴀe life of the Medicare Trust Fund will be extended as a result of reducing waste, fraud and abuse, and slowing cost growth in Medicare, which will provide you with future cost savings on your premiums and coinsurance.

All of the article information was taken directly from http://www.healthcare.gov/law/index.html. 

If you would like to read more about the Affordable Care Act, please visit this site.

¹ Beth Howard, 11 Myths About Health Care Reform, http://www.aarp.org/health/health-insurance/info-09-2012/medicare-and-health-care-reform-myths.html (September 2012). 

By:  Duwayne Bonhorst, Solution Specialist Vermeer/Wildcat

Wildcat™/Vermeer® has enjoyed a productive relationship with Amerimulch® since 2006. At that time we worked together to color mulch in a Wildcat trommel screen, a process that continues to this day. Many of the innovations since our beginning have come from Amerimulch in the area of increased efficiency in color and water usage.

Wildcat has now brought something new to the table. Our engineers were tasked with introducing a tier four engine in our TR521 trommel screen in order to meet emissions regulations. Wildcat went beyond  simply installing a new engine. The new unit has more horsepower which allows the addition of an auxiliary hydraulic circuit to power a stacking conveyor or other hydraulically powered accessory. ᴀe cooling package was reengineered to meet the demands of a wood/mulch yard.  The control system has also been completely revamped. Other changes include better engine access and hydrostatic power for the drum circuit.

A major improvement was made in the TR521 drum. Screen changes can now be handled much faster. ᴀe old system of attaching the tensioned screens had 372 pieces of hardware. ᴀe new has 90, all of which are contained in the system, no more buckets of loose nuts and bolts to deal with when changing screens. These updates mean you can change screens in half the time or better. As in all of our trommels there is the option of changing the entire drum in 30 minutes. If you would rather not in-cur the expense of an extra drum or have the equipment to remove the drum, the new quick change screen system will help your bottom line.

Additionally, the TR521 now has radio remote control of the hopper (forward, reverse and stop), drum, fines/overs belt speed via a hand held unit that works with a new control system. ᴀis means the operator can adjust the trommel from the loader cab to better work with the Amerimulch system. No more jumping out of the loader to adjust or shut down the screener thus making the Wildcat/Amerimulch system more efficient and safer. Another great feature is that you can now enter and save four pre-sets into the remote. Example: You use your trommel on preset #1 for screening topsoil or compost. Time to hook up the Amerimulch system and produce colored mulch? Rather than having to change the screener settings manually you can save the setup in the remote on preset #2, press start and the trommel will go to the settings you have programmed. You can also fine tune the setup via the remote. In addition the remote has a screen that allows you to monitor real time information on hopper belt speed, drum speed and fines/overs belt speed along with full engine data.

Have you ever fired up the screener and forgotten to turn on the fines/overs belt, thus, plugging up the works? Being a true trommel professional, I can honestly say I’ve forgotten to do it more than a dozen times within the last 30 days. Now with the TR521, you start the machine, have it on your preset setup, and then push start. Automatically, a warning horn sounds, the belts engage, the drum kicks in, the engine RPM ramps to the set point, and then the hopper starts. To shut down just hit the button and system works in reverse.

We look forward to working with Amerimulch and your local Vermeer/Wildcat dealer to enhance your business.